George

Jackie Bevins’ name was plastered all over Ogunquit. She is running for the town council — some of the signs said “Bring Back Bevins” — where she had served sometime in the past. Jackie has also been serving meals here for 39 years, starting with a small restaurant on Main Street — hence, Jackie’s Too, the Perkins Cove restaurant where we dined.

Jackie sold her Main Street restaurant, making the “Too” a bit outdated. But I’d say she made a great move. Most of the seats here offer a stunning ocean view, and the restaurant is large with three separate rooms and even more tables outside.

Our host Daniel gave us a warm welcome and led us to a table right next to the ocean. Our server, Karen, has worked here for six years and was attentive and helpful in getting us through the extensive menu. For an appetizer, I chose one of her recommendations, the fried Cajun shrimp ($9.95): Maine fried shrimp dusted with a spiced Cajun sauce. They were perfectly fried and not at all greasy, and both the Cajun and the tartar sauce were really good.

Halfway through the dish, Karen stopped by to see how we were doing, and it looked like I hadn’t even started. Yes, portions are large, which is makes for a great deal given the reasonable prices. I do have to confess that I also ate Lin’s second crab cake, and took the rest of my shrimp home.

The entree choice was tough, and I was leaning toward “Jackie’s Favorite,” which includes gulf shrimp, sea scallops and haddock broiled in lemon butter and topped with seasoned crumbs ($21.95). Seafood Diablo was also on the menu, a dish I love.

But after lots of deliberation, and with guidance from Karen, I finally chose the Baked Stuffed Haddock ($21.95), which was topped with shrimp and lobster stuffing. The fries that came with it were perfect, and the veggies were good too. But I focused on the fish, with those tasty toppings, yet only managed to eat less than half of the fillet.

Jackie’s Too is a great location with great food and great prices. In summary, a great dining experience. While you can drive to the restaurant, it’s also possible to walk the wonderful oceanside Marginal Way from the downtown area to Perkins Cove — a great way to work up an appetite!

Linda

Jackie’s Too is right on the water in Perkins Cove. We sat on the porch where all tables have a wonderful view. The clear plastic curtains were still covering the windows, but Daniel told us they come up in the summer when it is warmer.

This is the place for lobster bisque and clam chowder. Starters are mostly from the sea. Jackie’s Catch offers up two options of fried food (haddock and clams) and a large variety of baked or broiled selections. From haddock and salmon to swordfish kebabs and broiled scallops, there are lots of fresh seafood choices.

I ordered the Maine crab cakes ($12.95), for my appetizer. A crispy crust encased pure crabmeat and herbs — no fillers and foo-foo — just lots of fresh, sweet crabmeat. These were served with a cilantro-lime remoulade and were simply delicious.

The view is indeed spectacular, with waves rolling up on the rocks. We watched ducks frolicking and fishing in the ocean. The sun was just hitting the water’s edge, and people were still walking the Marginal Way at dusk. Does summer dining in Maine get any better than this?

The crab cakes were a hearty portion, which I shared with George, but I was looking for a lighter dinner. As I watched orders being served around us, I noted that many tables were getting burgers or salads. Both portions were gigantic.

I was leaning toward a salad when Karen steered me toward the crispy goat cheese and ricotta cake salad ($14.95). And what a salad it was. Served in a large bowl, a big serving of mixed fresh greens were topped with caramelized shallots, toasted candied walnuts and dried cranberries.

Two goat cheese and ricotta balls were fried to crispiness on the outside while the inside remained light and fluffy. A lemon vinaigrette brought all the flavors together with the tartness of the goat cheese balancing well with the sweetness of the walnuts and dried cranberries. It was a wonderful dish, and though I couldn’t finish all the greens, I did a pretty good job on it.

Jackie continues to give patrons great meals using the freshest of ingredients. Let’s hope she also has time to serve on the town council!

Maine Music Theater

The Maine Music Theater draws us to Brunswick at least a couple times each summer. We just saw “Always … Patsy Cline,” with 27 unforgettable hit songs. Wow! That runs until June 24, followed by “Guys and Dolls.” We’ll be back in July for “Grease,” with more wonderful songs. Then they’ll perform “Newsies,” a Disney musical. In between, they’ll host some great concerts and then collaborate with the Portland Stage in September for The All Night Strut. You’ll want to strut down to Portland for that!

Visit George’s website — georgesmithmaine.com — for book reviews, outdoor news and all Travelin’ Maine(rs) columns, found listed by town in the “Best of Maine” section.

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